G. Botas: Investigation into subsidies for 'ghost fields'

Account freeze and investigation by the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime into agricultural unionist Giorgos Botas, regarding agricultural subsidies he allegedly received for 'ghost fields' in the Malgara area.

According to the findings, G. Botas allegedly declared agricultural plots that did not correspond to actual properties, securing over 49,000 euros from OPEKEPE for the period 2019-2024. In total, the subsidies he received amount to 126,448.66 euros.

The investigation began after checks on the Single Aid Applications (EAE) submitted by G. Botas. It was found that 17 agricultural plots he declared as leased did not appear in the E9 declarations of the alleged owners.

G. Botas also submitted an application for 2025, declaring 15 agricultural plots that match false declarations from previous years. The case is being investigated by Appeals Prosecutor Dimitris Gkyzis, while G. Botas' bank accounts have been frozen.

G. Botas himself stated that he leases agricultural plots every year and that the owners may have failed to identify the E9 with the Land Registry.